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Smart Family Fields Book, Movie Offers (Isn't that Special!)
Yahoo News ^ | 3/17/03

Posted on 03/17/2003 9:21:09 AM PST by areafiftyone

SALT LAKE CITY - Hollywood loves a gripping saga, especially one with a happy — and astonishing — ending like the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping.

So it's no surprise that in the five days since the kidnapped teen returned home, the family's spokesman has fielded more than 3,000 media calls and received nearly 100 film, book or made-for-TV-movie proposals.

The potential audience for a real-life drama is enormous, if hits to the Smart family Web site are any indication. In the first hours after Elizabeth was found alive and returned home Wednesday, more than 3 million people had visited the site.

Her story, outlined by investigators, is a screenwriter's dream: Kidnapped at knifepoint — allegedly by homeless drifter Brian David Mitchell — Elizabeth lived with the self-proclaimed prophet and his wife Wanda Barzee for nine months.

Family members say she was so brainwashed she didn't try to escape, even when she had the chance.

Sharp-eyed witnesses recognized Mitchell and called police Wednesday. The suspects were arrested, Elizabeth was returned home, and people across the country rejoiced.

Mitchell and Barzee remained in jail Sunday awaiting charges, which could come as early as Monday.

Chris Thomas, a spokesman for parents Ed and Lois Smart, said they will begin to review production offers in the next few weeks.

"It's something that they're going to deal with soon. They're trying to figure this all out — it comes down to let someone else tell the story, or tell it themselves," Thomas said.

USA, ABC, NBC, CBS and Lifetime are all reportedly interested in obtaining rights to the story.

"It really covers the broad spectrum. I haven't looked at all of them, and I don't want to disclose specific names and studios or other entities, but we've been contacted by some really big names," said Thomas.

Rumors that John Walsh, host of the television show "America's Most Wanted," has been pushing Ed Smart for a production deal are false, said Thomas. Walsh has interviewed the father for his show and the two became close after Elizabeth's disappearance.

"It came up in a discussion between Ed and John, when Ed was asking John for advice on a number of things. John said, 'I'm not even going to go there. I've read rumors that I've got the inside source on this. I do have a production company and if you're interested you can talk to me, but I'm not pitching you. That would be a really tacky thing to do in my capacity,'" Thomas said.

Thomas said the family has not begun to consider a price, because they haven't decided yet whether to go along with any production, movie or book.

"Right now, their main focus is on Elizabeth and books and movies and exterior things are secondary," he said. "The family is being very calculated in every action, and weighing the pros and cons of everything with the predominant priority being Elizabeth's well-being."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: martfamily
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To: lady lawyer
Just because the father doesn't cry like a movie star, people condemn him as wierd.

I don't know about anyone else, but I began to question this guy's motives the moment he used the occasion of his daughter's recovery to launch an idiotic rant against U.S. Congressman Sensenbrenner, criticizing him for failing to enact a nationwide Amber Alert system. Which was particularly bizarre in light of the fact that his daughter was found very close to her home, and had spent months walking around in public with a veil over her face.

41 posted on 03/17/2003 10:00:04 AM PST by Alberta's Child
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Comment #42 Removed by Moderator

To: Alberta's Child
Because they get the cooperation of the principal. Because they eliminate the risk of nuisance lawsuits from people who don't understand that facts cannot be copyrighted. Those suits can be expensive to get rid of, even though they are completely meritless. Both the plaintiffs and defendants lawyers will spend a ton of time and clients' money. The plaintiff won't get a dime. You can scoff if you want, but that's the law.

There is also the risk that the moviemakers might present something as fact that isn't fact, and might open themselves up to a libel or "false light" suit. But, in this case, all the moviemaker will have to do is listen to the court testimony. Every word of it can be reproduced without the permission of the principals. It is a public record.

Again, I don't know what I would do in the Smart's situation. I'm sure they wish that all the media would just pack up, go home, and let them try to get Elizabeth back to normal. I certainly would, in their shoes. They can't make that happen. They now have to decide what to do about the media interest.
43 posted on 03/17/2003 10:01:41 AM PST by lady lawyer
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To: lady lawyer
I agree. Also, as conservatives, shouldn't we respect the right of someone who decides to tell his or her story, whether we think it's distasteful or not? Your point about the fact that a movie will be made with or without input from the family is a good one that had not occurred to me.

I honestly don't care if they make a movie or write a book or not. It has no bearing on what has happened up to this point.

44 posted on 03/17/2003 10:02:18 AM PST by alnick
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To: Alouette
My 15-year-old daughter (the same age as Elizabeth) brought this up yesterday: "What if the family planned the whole thing in order to make a book and movie about it?"

Although I have my severe doubts about an "abduction", I do not think this is the case. If so, they are incredibly stupid. Here's why: First, it would be eventually found out. Secondly, Emmanuel wouldn't fit in with a "planned" story. He would be going down for kidnapping and who knows what else. And lastly, the Smarts would face criminal charges for it, not to mention the fury of the American people.

45 posted on 03/17/2003 10:02:50 AM PST by FreeTally
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To: Alberta's Child
That does stand out as being vey bizarre.
46 posted on 03/17/2003 10:04:18 AM PST by FreeTally
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To: Alberta's Child
I think he thought he could help other missing children, and he realized he's never have another moment like that one to do it. I wouldn't have reacted that way. I thought it was a little over the top, but which of us could say how we would react in an incredible moment like that? I don't attribute ulterior motives, though.
47 posted on 03/17/2003 10:04:24 AM PST by lady lawyer
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To: lady lawyer
I'm sure they wish that all the media would just pack up, go home, and let them try to get Elizabeth back to normal.

Maybe not. The story I heard last week (which was confirmed by someone here on FR) was that none of the photos you see of Elizabeth were taken by media photographers -- they were taken by the family and sold to the media.

48 posted on 03/17/2003 10:05:12 AM PST by Alberta's Child
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To: Utah Girl
You don't think her Dad is a camera hog. I will agree that his camera appearances helped get her picture out there but as soon as she was released, he was on camera and has been since then. One of his first statements after release was political. Come on now!!
49 posted on 03/17/2003 10:05:48 AM PST by dwilli
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To: Alberta's Child
Maybe not. The story I heard last week (which was confirmed by someone here on FR) was that none of the photos you see of Elizabeth were taken by media photographers -- they were taken by the family and sold to the media.

Well, if one of the Smart bashers here on FR said it, it must be true. Sheesh.

50 posted on 03/17/2003 10:08:00 AM PST by alnick
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To: Utah Girl
I would suspect that this sicko is going to make even more weird assertions to claim his innocence.
51 posted on 03/17/2003 10:10:08 AM PST by Mfkmmof4
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To: lady lawyer
I wouldn't have reacted that way.

Neither would I. And even if I did, I would have at least taken the time to get the facts straight. My understanding is that the nationwide Amber Alert bill was passed in the House of Representative but has been held up in the Senate.

I think he thought he could help other missing children, and he realized he's never have another moment like that one to do it.

Funny how he neglected to mention the most relevant piece of advice he could have given in this regard -- Don't invite strangers into your home, ESPECIALLY FREAKS LIKE THIS MITCHELL GUY WHOSE VERY APPEARANCE IS NOTHING SHORT OF A "WARNING FLAG" TO ANYONE WITH AN I.Q. OVER 40.

52 posted on 03/17/2003 10:10:30 AM PST by Alberta's Child
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To: alnick
Well, if one of the Smart bashers here on FR said it, it must be true.

I took the report seriously because the Freeper who confirmed it wasn't a "Smart basher" at all. In fact, he/she was trying to explain why they were doing this.

53 posted on 03/17/2003 10:12:11 AM PST by Alberta's Child
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To: dwilli
I don't think he was wise in his comments about Sensenbrenner, but I will cut him some slack. Smart has become very involved with the missing children groups, and is very passionate about it. And everyone goes on and on about how much he's been on camera since Elizabeth was found. I'll just cut to the chase, No, I don't think he's been on camera and hogging it since Elizabeth's recovery. The family held a press conference to let everyone know she had been found (which is where Ed went off.) He was interviewed for a few shows, he had a few words to say at the celebration on Friday evening in SLC at Liberty Park. He appeared for about 4 minutes on America's Most Wanted. He probably feels obligated to the media, since they did keep running the story. Now, I hope he tells the media to get lost.

What I am worried about is the Smarts and their extended family being on camera, and letting slip something important about the abduction that would jeopardize the prosecution. I saw some interview the other night with Chris Smart, Ed's brother, and the interviewer asked him what he thought of Mitchell. Smart started to say Well...and then caught himself, and said he couldn't say anything on national TV. It was pretty evident what Chris Smart thought of Mitchell by the expression on his face.

54 posted on 03/17/2003 10:14:57 AM PST by Utah Girl ("We must stop evil before it becomes too powerful." - Elie Weisel.)
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To: Conservative4Ever
Hey, you never know! I saw a 40 year-old man wearing a braid yesterday!
55 posted on 03/17/2003 10:15:19 AM PST by Trust but Verify
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To: Alberta's Child
No its the opposite, the US Senate passed the Amber alert by a wide margin, it is the House that is holding up the measure. Sensenbrenner wants to have the law have more teeth in it.
56 posted on 03/17/2003 10:15:57 AM PST by Utah Girl ("We must stop evil before it becomes too powerful." - Elie Weisel.)
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To: alnick
Please tell me that you're being sarcastic about the braids.

My daughters are in college and they often wear braids. Elizabeth Smart is a really pretty girl and I do hope that her parents protect her from media manipulation. The new revelations about the jerk that kidnapped her is really giving me the creeps. She has been through horrors and I hope she can recover her peace of mind. Mitchell and Barzee are sickos. While I am not pleased with the parents for allowing lowlifes near their home and children they are not the bad guys in this story. They are to be praised for never giving up on their daughter's safe return.

57 posted on 03/17/2003 10:16:02 AM PST by Lauratealeaf
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To: Alberta's Child
Tom Smart took the pictures. He has been a news photography for the Deseret News for decades. I don't think the pictures were sold. The family knew there would be a huge demand for pictures, but they had no intention of letting non-family media get to Elizabeth.

Incidentally, Tom has sometimes taken the lead in the media because he has been part of the media for years. He was the one in the family best equipped to deal with the media, because he was at least familiar with it, although certainly not an "on camera" personality, and it showed. But some people have taken that simply, obvious fact and twisted it into some wierd "hierarchy" theory.

These people are doing the best they can with a horrible situation. Give them a break.
58 posted on 03/17/2003 10:17:23 AM PST by lady lawyer
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To: Utah Girl
Sensenbrenner wants to have the law have more teeth in it.

And Smart's problem with this is . . . ?

And a nationwide Amber Alert system would have helped find a missing child who walked around in public and was found close to home by . . . ?

59 posted on 03/17/2003 10:18:31 AM PST by Alberta's Child
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To: lady lawyer
Not only that, but the lily-white Ed SMart LIED about why the law hasn't been passed. Apparently not above that. Or maybe he was just too emotional to be thinking right. Yeah. I'll bet that's it.

Someone get these people off the stage. They've had their 15 minutes and were lucky enough to get their daughter back in good physical condition.

60 posted on 03/17/2003 10:20:23 AM PST by Trust but Verify
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